NEWSLETTER
Nsw Computer Education Group Conference issue Term 2 2008
!""#$%&'& Web-Based Tools for Educators:
Bringing Collaboration Alive
Susan Brooks-Young
!""#$%&'&
!"#$%&'('
The internet was once a static resource you through creating a variety of questions,
where users visited sites to find information administering the survey, and working with
controlled by webmasters who created and the results. Several reputable sites provide
maintained online pages. Recently developed this service and each offers at least a limited
web-based applications, often referred to as free subscription.
Web 2.0 tools, now enable internet users to Tools I use regularly
!"#"$"%&'%()*+,-&.' find information and make contributions to include:SurveyMonkey (www.
the sites they visit. The level of interactivity surveymonkey.com)
!"#$%&'())* is controlled by the webmaster and ranges Zoomerang (www.zoomerang.com)
from limited, monitored comments to full Add-A-Form (www.addaform.com)
The 24th NSWCEG State editing rights for all site visitors. Why do
educators need to concern themselves with Because these surveys are web-based,
Conference this shift from passive to active use of the
internet?
students may access them from any internet-
connected computer using a link provided by
U.S. employers report that new entrants the teacher. The link can be posted on a class
This years state conference will into the workforce are woefully unprepared website or emailed to each student. Results
be held at Panthers, Newcastle to meet the demands of today’s jobs. are available just to the survey creator, unless
According to a recent survey of 431 human s/he decides to make them visible to survey-
on Sunday 6th July to Monday resources officials across the nation, new
employees must have two skill sets. The
takers.
Students may also use online survey
7th July 2008. “3 R’s” are still fundamental, but survey tools to gather data for assignments and
participants view applied skills such as team projects. In addition to being a vehicle for
work, critical thinking, and communication data collection, this provides an excellent
Check the website for updates as equally, or even more important. The
results of this survey, published by the
opportunity to teach writing, mathematics,
critical thinking and communication skills.
and further information Conference Board, are available in a
report entitled “Are They Really Ready to Wiki sites
www.nswceg.org.au
Work?” (http://www.conference-board.org/ A wiki is a website that allows visitors
publications/describe.cfm?id=1218). to add, remove, and edit content. Public
wikis such as Wikipedia, a web-based
Professional Development Courses Although Web 2.0 tools such as blogs encyclopedia, allow anyone to make changes
(e.g. MySpace) and video sharing sites and contributions. However, other wiki tools
Again check the website for (e.g., YouTube) have received a great deal
of bad press, for every problematic tool,
allow the wiki owner to limit visitors’ ability
to view and edit pages. Because a wiki is
further updates and information. there are dozens that educators can use easy to build and maintain, some teachers are
safely and productively. Web 2.0 tools are now using this tool for classroom sites rather
D-Link WiFi Course a perfect vehicle for teaching fundamental than more traditional site-building tools. For
This course was postponed. New dates literacy skills in environments that support example, elementary teacher Elise Mueller
will be availiable shortly. collaboration, problem-solving, and has created Portable C’s Wikispace (http://
communication at levels that were difficult portablec.wikispaces.com/) for her classroom
We will also be ruinning this course on to achieve in the past. This column spotlights in Bellingham, WA. Mueller protects each
Saturday 5th July in the lead up to the several of these tools. page on the wiki so that editing rights are
State Conference. restricted.
Online surveys Teachers are also creating wikis for
21st Century Leadership in While test scores, grades, and other student use. Canadian mathematics teacher
academic assessments provide important Darren Kuropatwa’s students use wikis to
Technology information for teachers, less formal on- create glossaries and collaborative solutions
This is a repeat of the 2007 workshops that going data collection is equally important manuals. Here’s a link to a wiki developed by
was so well received. Don’t miss it this time. when making instructional decisions. his students last winter: http://pc40s.pbwiki.
Teachers who conduct short surveys to com/. This wiki is also password protected.
When: Saturday 7th June and Sun- assess students’ prior knowledge about a It can be viewed by anyone, but editing is
day 8th June topic or to gather student input about how an restricted to viewers who have the password.
Where: Mercure Hotel, 106 Hassall St. instructional unit is going are able to make Students are able to access the wiki using
adjustments in the content or design of a any internet-connected computer, making it
Rosehill NSW 2142 lesson when needed. But paper surveys can possible for them to make contributions or
(Paramatta) almost be more trouble than they’re worth use it as a resource 24/7. Elementary teacher
Time: 9am - 4pm An easy, inexpensive way to gather this Sally Tippet’s students [Staffordshire LEA
kind of information is by using web-based (UK)] are using a wiki to write an interactive
Critical Technology Issues for School survey tools. Creating an online survey story called What Will Happen to Sylvia?
doesn’t save time at first. You still need to The link is: http://kingston.wikispaces.com/.
Leaders develop and add questions. However, once
A two day workshop With Susan Brooks a survey is created, data collection and
Young, to be held in Sydney. A Brochure is analysis is a snap and existing surveys can
enclosed in this mailing. be used again as-is or modified. Survey tool
sites provide easy-to-use templates to guide
eMail: nswceg@ozemail.com.au Ph: 1-800 002 083 Fax: 1-800 002 085
There are several free wiki tools designed Center (http://docs.google.com/support/), saved, click on the Share button to invite
specifically for use by educators. Here are but experienced users of computer-based additional collaborators to view or co-author
two of my favorites: applications have little or no difficulty the document. Again, it’s possible (but not
pb
wiki (www.pbwiki.com) making the switch to the web-based tools. necessary) to publish files on the web for
wikispaces (http://www.wikispaces.
New documents are created with the click of anyone to view. Another nice feature of
com/) a button and each individual user is provided ThinkFree is that the file you’re working
online storage for up to 1000 documents and on will be saved to your hard drive if the
Web-based application suites 100 spreadsheets. application quits unexpectedly.
We’re accustomed to using word Word processing documents may be
processing, spreadsheet, and presentation edited and formatted using tabs found in a Zoho
programs that are installed on a hard drive. horizontal tool bar near the top of the screen. Zoho offers word processing, spreadsheet
Web-based application suites make it While there are some formatting limitations, and presentation applications. The toolbars
possible for teachers and students to create, most commonly used word processing resemble Office applications, but there are
edit, and store these kinds of files online features such as adding pictures, live links, differences that may take a few minutes to
making files available anywhere you have and tables are available. It is possible to figure out. Most experienced Office users
internet access. Files may still be saved to preview and print pages from here, but files will not have difficulty doing this, and Help
a hard drive in case it’s necessary to work may also be saved in a variety of formats can be found in a Forum area. Like Google
without an online connection. Perhaps the (e.g., Word, Open Office, or PDF). Docs & Spreadsheets and ThinkFree, users
most exciting feature of these web-based Spreadsheet documents are also edited may share files with invited collaborators and
applications is the ability to invite specific and formatted using tabs in a horizontal tool save files on and off-line.
individuals to view and edit your documents bar. A nice feature offered here (that doesn’t In addition to the applications mentioned
simultaneously. This means that invited exist in Docs yet) is the ability to click on above, Zoho also offers several other
collaborators are also able to view and work Discuss and engage in a live chat with other Productivity Tools and Utilities. For
on documents anytime, anywhere. collaborators currently working on the example, registered users have access to
There are at least four benefits to document. Again, there are some limitations project management software, an online data
using these applications. First, software when compared to Excel, but all the basic base application, a simple polling program,
compatibility becomes a non-issue. It features are available here. and more. Creative teachers and students will
no longer matters what applications are Inviting collaborators for Docs and find multiple ways to use these additional
installed on individual computers. Second, Spreadsheets is done by clicking on the tools in classwork.
whether working on a personal computer, a Collaborate tab and entering individual email This column just begins to scratch the
school computer, or a borrowed computer addresses. You have the option of allowing surface of useful Web 2.0 tools for teachers
all collaborators are able to access files these people to view or edit the file and and students. If you’d like to learn more,
simply by logging on. Third, the need to both applications allow you to review all please visit a wiki that I have created called
email updated files to other collaborators is revisions. Once a person has been invited to Web Tools for Educators. I’ve posted a link
eliminated because the most recent version collaborate in one document, it’s possible to the wiki in the Resources section of my
is always available online. Several of these to invite him/her into additional documents website at http://sjbrooks-young.com/id13.
applications will even email a notification by selecting his/her name from a drop-down html.
whenever a file is updated. Finally, list of your existing collaborators. Although When you access the wiki, click on the
collaborators are able to work on files you can publish your files to the web, or post Today’s Catholic Teacher article link in the
without having to physically be in the same them in a blog, it’s not necessary and not Sidebar. All resources mentioned here are
place at the same time. This is particularly publishing alleviates security concerns. listed on that page. In addition, feel free to
useful for student groups working on long review other pages in the wiki that provide
term assignments that used to require study ThinkFree even more resources.
group meetings outside the school day. ThinkFree offers three applications: word
Three free web-based application suites I processing, spreadsheet, and presentation. Bio: A former Catholic school teacher,
use are: An online tour is available as well as a Susan Brooks-Young spent 23 years as a
Google Docs & Spreadsheets (http:// support area. Once you’ve established an teacher and administrator. She now works
docs.google.com/) account, log in and click on My Office to as a professional consultant and author. Her
ThinkFree (http://www.thinkfree.com/) access the applications. Whenever you create latest book is Critical Technology Issues
Zoho (http://www.zoho.com/) a new word processing or presentation file, for School Leaders (Corwin Press, 2006).
You may be wondering why I use you are offered two editing options, Quick Susan invites your comments at SJBrooks@
more than one of these application suites. and Power. Quick editing is fine for most aol.com.
Primarily it’s because each suite offers basic use although it is not yet available
different programs, so I use a combination of for spreadsheets. Power editing requires Susan Brooks-Young
the available applications. downloading Java plug-ins onto your hard 78 Snowberry Lane
Let’s look at each suite individually. drive, but the end result is an environment Lopez, WA 98261
that looks nearly identical to Office (360) 468-2979 home
Google Docs & Spreadsheets applications. Every user is permitted to store (360) 468-2955 fax
Currently, Google Docs & Spreadsheets up to 1 GB of files.
offers tools for web-based word processing Once a document has been created and SJBrooks@aol.com
and spreadsheet files. There is an online Help
Conference Keynote: Susan Brooks-Young
Seed I.T. Educating the MySpace Generation: 21st
Century Skills Come to School
Feed I.T. We give lip-service to transforming classrooms by introducing tools and strategies that
support 21st century skills, and then balk at actual implementation. But how can we prepare
our students to thrive in the Digital Age if we aren’t prepared to challenge some basic
assumptions about the role of education in a global society?
Lead I.T.
In this audience-participation keynote address, Susan Brooks-Young encourages educators to
consider critical issues impacting today’s schools by exploring three key questions:
!"#"$%&'%
!"#$%&'() • Is it our job to enthrall or to engage our students?
• Why do adults and students view technology in such different ways?
• Are mobile technologies distractors or 21st century tools for learning?
!"#$%&!
The talk concludes with a call for action based upon five specific steps audience members can
start taking immediately to strengthen their own growth as a 21st century learner and educator
!""# and to provide support to their colleagues.
NSW Computer Education Group P.O. Box 7451 Chatham, NSW, 2430 www.nswceg.org.au
Harnassing the Potential for Wikipedia in the Classroom
Susan Brooks-Young
Imagine you are offered two free relies on peer-review and editing to bring accessed using a Search feature) in most
sets of up-to-date encyclopedias for every sub-standard articles up to par. instances where students find inappropriate
student in your school, one for use in the Contributors and editors are sometimes material it is because they have intentionally
classroom and one for the home. Aside from called Wikipedians. More than 4 million used keywords that led to the article(s)
the obvious problem of classroom storage volunteers worldwide assume a variety of in question. In these cases, Wikipedians
space, would you be tempted to accept this tasks including posting their own work, suggest that adult supervision and instruction
generous gift? Say that the encyclopedia making factual corrections in other articles, in acceptable use are the best strategies
is in electronic format on a CD-ROM or or cleaning up grammar and spelling for insuring that students do not seek out
DVD, eliminating the need for book storage mistakes. Some Wikipedians have the unsuitable material.
at school and making it backpack portable? authority to remove pages that do not meet Given these concerns, does Wikipedia
Does the proposal become more appealing? community expectations (usually related have a place in the classroom?
Let’s take this scenario one step further. You to presentation of biased information) or to
learn that the encyclopedia is Web-based, block users who regularly vandalize entries. Strategies for Classroom Use
freely accessible both at school and home. In Disputes about content and/or editing are Despite the potential drawbacks,
addition, it is updated nearly instantly when resolved through online discussions. Wikipedia has a lot to offer teachers and
events such as the declassification of Pluto students. Most schools cannot afford
as a planet make paper or CD files outdated. teachers and library to provide the number of up-to-date
What would you do?
In essence, this last example is what media specialists worry encyclopedias needed to insure that all
students have classroom and home access
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com) offers about accuracy to resource materials, but Wikipedia makes
educators and students. But schools this possible. Although the accuracy
frequently shy away from Wikipedia, rate of contributions is slightly less
blocking access to the site. In addition, Why Is Wikipedia Controversial? than Encyclopedia Britannica, it is still
teachers and library media specialists often Three major concerns are commonly respectably high. And, unlike errors made
discourage student use of Wikipedia even expressed about Wikipedia. First and in print, mistakes in a Wikipedia article can
when the site is accessible at school. What foremost, teachers and library media be corrected in the time it takes to type the
are the major objections to use of this specialists worry about accuracy. There revisions.
site in schools? This column provides an have been several well-publicized incidents Wikipedia can be used to teach students
overview of Wikipedia, highlights three in which articles included patently false a variety of Information Literacy skills. Let’s
major concerns expressed by educators and statements. However, there are also studies take a look at reliability from a different
explores ways educators may use the site showing that misinformation in Wikipedia angle. When I was a student, my teachers
effectively. articles is the exception, not the rule. For did not permit students to cite encyclopedia
instance, in 2005 Nature, an international articles in term paper bibliographies. We
What Is Wikipedia? weekly journal of science (www.nature. were taught that an encyclopedia was a
One of several projects sponsored com), conducted a review of 42 online starting point, but that we needed to verify
by the Wikimedia Foundation (http:// science articles from Wikipedia and from the facts presented there in at least two
wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Home), Encyclopedia Britannica. Nature’s reviewers independent resources, which could be
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) is an found that Wikipedia articles averaged about cited. Students today also need to learn
online encyclopedia. But unlike traditional four inaccuracies each, while Britannica’s healthy skepticism about the materials they
encyclopedias authored and edited by paid average was three. Just eight serious read, understanding that all sources must
staff, Wikipedia is a collaboratively written mistakes were identified overall: four each be verified. Allow students to begin with
project that invites anyone to contribute in Wikipedia and Britannica articles. A few Wikipedia, but insist that they explore further
entries. At this time, Wikipedia contains reviewers commented that some Wikipedia to find confirmation of the facts presented.
more than 7.5 million articles in 253 articles were more difficult to read, but that The best-written Wikipedia articles include
languages, making it the largest encyclopedia was attributed to poor writing quality rather extensive citations that can easily be verified,
in history. The English edition of Wikipedia, than factual mistakes. but what can students learn from articles that
which was launched on January 15, 2001, are not well-cited?
includes 1.84 million entries covering an
articles may be
edited at any time
increasingly diverse range of topics. In June
2007, the web site ranking service Alexa Students today also need
(www.alexa.com) rated Wikipedia the ninth to learn healthy skepticism
most popular site on the web. A second objection to use of Wikipedia
is the fact that articles may be edited at about the materials they read,
How Does Wikipedia Work? any time, creating discrepancies between understanding that all sources
Wikipedia uses the MediaWiki the content that existed when an article
platform, an open source online tool that was originally cited and later reading(s) must be verified.
allows virtually anyone to add to or edit of that same article. For example, shortly
the website’s content. Original articles may after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Andy Carvin, founding editor of the
only be posted by registered site members, region, references to the largest city in Digital Divide Network (www.digitaldivide.
but then can be edited by anyone who visits Louisiana were updated to mention Baton net/), suggests that teachers lead students
Wikipedia. There are two exceptions to these Rouge, not New Orleans. Wikipedians through the following exercise. Divide
editing privileges. Individual entries may recommend circumventing this problem by students into small groups and allow each
sometimes be locked to prevent open editing. including the date the article was accessed in group to choose an article of interest to them.
For example, an article on a controversial the citation. With this information, teachers Ask each group to read its article, identify
topic will be protected to avoid inaccurate and other readers may access the article’s facts that need to be checked, and then verify
or biased modifications. And, as was the history and view the cited version. By the these facts. When fact-checking is complete,
case with a school in Canada recently, users same token, some educators view these create a classroom Wikipedia account and
may lose editing privileges due to persistent quick updates as a strength, pointing out help students post their findings on the talk
online misbehavior such as intentionally that Wikipedia users are not relying on old, page for the article and to make appropriate
vandalizing entries. inaccurate information. edits. This activity helps students acquire
Registered members who contribute The final major concern for many skills for evaluating the accuracy of all kinds
articles may publish under their own educators is whether or not the content of of text-based information, not just Wikipedia.
names, using pseudonyms, or anonymously. some articles is appropriate for youngsters Teachers may also want to have their
Contributors are often experts in their field, to access and read. Wikipedians are firm in students write and publish original Wikipedia
but this is not a requirement. The Wikipedia their resolve that unbiased articles will not articles. Wikipedians are willing to help
community has established the expectation be censored based on topic alone; however, teachers set up a classroom account (instead
that all writers will contribute unbiased work they do recognize that some articles may of individual student accounts) that can be
that is appropriately cited. When articles fall not be appropriate for K-12 classrooms. used to post student articles. Remember that
short of these expectations, the community Because of the site’s design (entries are the same community writing requirements
apply to students: they are expected to
eMail: nswceg@ozemail.com.au Ph: 1-800 002 083 Fax: 1-800 002 085
From the Laptop of the President
contribute articles
that are unbiased
and well-cited. They
may also publish
using a classroom Two things:
pseudonym or 1. Reminder about the conference in July at Newcastle Panthers also check the website for other
anonymously to PD activities.
protect their privacy.
2. Below is my response which was posted onto the NSWCEG list. I am still investigating the
Not comfortable DET’s approach to the funding and I will keep you informed when I have more details.
allowing students
to contribute to the Enjoy!
site? Even when students’ use of Wikipedia Tah! Cathie
is confined to searching for existing articles,
make this an opportunity to teach effective
search strategies and instruct students on
how they should handle problems related to Future Rounds of the National Secondary
accessing inappropriate material. Nothing
replaces adult supervision. As mentioned
earlier in this column, students who
Schools Computer fund (NSSCF)
encounter articles about controversial topics Meeting held on Wednesday 23rd April 2008
have typically used specific keywords to find
the entries. Educators and parents need to Group Manager - Evan Arthur spoke to the school expenditure, school management plans
have a plan for how they will deal with this meeting with assistance from other Federal and school communities. They emphasised
behavior. Students may also accidentally government officers. that the School council or similar body needs
encounter a vandalized article that hasn’t to approve the application before it would be
As one of the stakeholders, ACCE directed an accepted.
been caught and fixed by a Wikipedian. Take email to me as the NSWCEG representative to
the time to explain how you want students attend this meeting. The meeting discussed managing and
to handle this problem. The best strategy is planning for the proposal as well as managing
to let the closest adult know right away so s/ We were briefed about what has already and planning what hardware, software and
he can report it or revert back to an earlier happened and how the first round was infrastructure will be needed in schools.
version (registered members may do this). undertaken. Online content will be available as well. They
Educators who are willing to give are looking at online training courses.
Wikipedia a try, but are nervous about Broadband is to be rolled out to ALL schools
granting students full access to the site (all government and non-government schools) Broadband is separate to this issue even
may prefer using the 2007 Wikipedia including those schools which have satellite though part of it. The funding for NSSCF is
Selection (http://schools-wikipedia.org/). connections may go cable if this is possible. for everything else. Schools who currently
This free collection is comprised of 4,625 Apparently there is a lot of cabling around have satellite connections MAY have fibre to
articles selected specifically because of Australia but has been unused and could be upgrade their internet speed but would only
their suitability for students and alignment connected to schools to increase the internet happen if economically possible.
with curriculum in many English-speaking speed in schools.
countries. These articles have been checked Question posed and not really responded
First round: Neediest schools were found to: How do you ensure that an educational
and edited with K-12 students in mind and first to reduce the 1:8 or worse to a 1:2 ratio.
are not available for open editing. Educators commitment is made by schools? Discussion
These schools were identified by the survey. discussed that subsequent rounds, schools
may access the site online, download the 2967 schools across Australia were identified
full selection, or order a DVD from the SOS would have to have a level of “readiness”. I
having Yr9-12 students and 947 schools were asked what they mean by readiness and they
Children office (www.soschildrensvillages. selected and have applied for funding.
org.uk/children-charity.htm). said they hadn’t come up with a definition only
As mentioned early in this column, New applications for Round 2 will open to that it should be a “whole school approach”
Wikipedia is just one of several projects schools in July 2008, they are unsure when to the funding. Therefore, the proposal would
sponsored by the Wikimedia Foundation. they will close. The funds must be expended have to be very thorough and demonstrate a
Visit the foundation’s site to learn more by the schools within 2 years. “readiness” for making this change to the
about additional free tools such as school.
Wiktionary, Wikiquote, Wikibooks, and Parameters for round 2 include $1000 per
computer unit. For example, school A How will the applications be judged? – based
more. In his article “Look Who’s Using on how well the schools apply and their
Wikipedia,” (www.time.com/time/business/ receives $100 000 (this figure I have pulled
out of the air just for the example with what planning and management.
article/0,8599,1595184,00.htm), Bill Tancer
of Hitwise points out that “…the majority of they explained). With this funding, they can They said there was no model for Professional
top [search] terms [used on Wikipedia] bear negotiate the price per unit which may end development. They still need to look at this
a close resemblance to elementary school up being $800 per unit. The school then can element but they suggested that there is funding
homework and research projects.” use the $200 per unit to provide infrastructure, available through the Quality Teaching Funding
computer accessories i.e. printers, or training for Professional Development – through the
and development of staff.
If elementary students Criteria for this round and future rounds needs
Minister’s portfolio (MCEETYA).
are, in fact, regular to be based on documentation from MCEETYA
Summary by Cathie Webber, President
NSWCEG
Wikipedia users, we need Website and Curriculum corp. It hasn’t been
FaceBook Users
released and not sure when it will be and based
to do our part to ensure on British findings. It has about 9 dimensions
that they are using this which include Training and development. This
document is the foundation of the proposal If you are not a FaceBook user, then
tool appropriately. you put together as it needs to align with it,
go to: www.facebook.com
your school’s management plan and with the
Bio: A former Catholic school teacher, school community.
Susan Brooks-Young spent 23 years as a
teacher and administrator. She now works We were introduced to “The Guide” for school Sign up and then go to groups and
as a professional consultant and author. Her leaders. It will be digital version (1st version join the NSWCEG group and I
in June 2008) eventually web based which
latest book is Digital-Age Literacy for
Teachers: Applying Technology Standards will contain material to assist school leaders suggest you join the ISTE group.
to Everyday Practice (ISTE, 2007). Susan in developing management of technology in Join us in exploring this application
schools. (Looked very much like a Computer
invites your comments at SJBrooks@aol.
Coordinator Guide). as a communiucation and
com.
The proposal for funding must connect with Professional Develoment tool.
NSW Computer Education Group P.O. Box 7451 Chatham, NSW, 2430 www.nswceg.org.au